Urge for research

As an independent voter, I have been involved in the current electoral process since April 2010 and would like to share my observations for what they are worth.

I’ve seen both sides of the coin.  When several members of the Sanders County Conservative, of which I am one, tried to attend a meeting of the Democrat Central Committee, we were told in no uncertain terms that we could not be there.  If you are not a Democrat you cannot attend, period, exclamation mark!

However, I was pleasantly surprised when two of their number broke ranks with the leadership and apologized in person.

On the other hand, I have also seen first hand, the members of the Republican Central Committee except the elected precinct persons of precinct 3 and 6, sit in silent approval when their leadership declared a dictatorship and would not allow any dissenting voices to be heard.

The behaviors of both party leaders are deplorable.

So what is my point?

My point is, do not make the mistake of thinking that a party platform defines the candidate.  There are decent, honest people running for office locally in both parties.  There are those of both parties that exhibit the trait of honesty, integrity, and adherence to Constitutional principles and law.

Will the (D), (R) or (I) representative, commissioner, treasurer, attorney, clerk and recorder, coroner, or sheriff do the job with honesty and integrity without knuckling under to their party leaders?   You need to know!

There are many in both parties, who demonstrate by their actions, that they owe allegiance first to the party leadership, not to you the voter, not to the Constitution of the US or the State of Montana, not to anyone except the leadership that got them into power.

These individuals are the ones that hide behind their parties platforms.  They tell you all the wonderful things that they want you to believe the party stands for, the rules they claim to abide by, and then they use the platform to provide cover for their lack of integrity knowing that many voters won’t look any further.  This year we need to elect persons with the integrity to stand on their platforms, not hide behind them!

The local and county elections this year will be the last that will be partisan in nature.  The next election cycle we will see no (D) or (R) next to the local and county candidates name.  You will have to know the individual as an individual.  The false facade of the party platform will be gone.

You will have to decide whether they exhibit, individually, a high degree of integrity, honesty, and the ability to do the job to which they aspire for all voters.

That is the way it should be, but this year you will be required to look deeper, past the platform and know the individual by their actions, and their record.  Know whom you are voting for. Don’t be a sucker.